Evaluation of Satellite Cirrus Data for Performance Models of CPV Modules.

In this paper ground based measurements of CPV module efficiency measured in Freiburg, Germany, are correlated to ground based measurements of DNI/GNI ratios and to space-borne observations of cirrus clouds obtained from the SEVIRI radiometer aboard the European geostationary Meteosat Second Generation satellite. The efficiency of CPV modules is found to decrease when the ratio of DNI to GNI increases. Furthermore, relatively high DNI to GNI ratios are observed when no cirrus clouds are present. In contrast, no direct correlation of efficiency and cirrus cloud cover was found for cases when cirrus clouds are detected by the satellite. Within this paper we provide explanations for this. The satellite measurement of cirrus clouds can be definitely applied for a qualitative evaluation of results derived by CPV module performance models. Furthermore the information about cirrus clouds can be of interest for an assessment of operation locations for CPV power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]